When people discuss navigating body image, you usually see tips about the summertime when the weather warms, the sun comes out, and fewer clothes are worn. However, body image is not something to navigate once a year; rather, it ebbs and flows through time and needs to be managed year-round on an “as needed” basis.
By: Tori Barkosky
Below are five tips on navigating body image during the colder months, when clothes are layered and the temperature drops.
Wear Clothes you Feel Comfortable In.
Often, you try to find clothes to fit a particular style or trend instead of wearing clothes for comfort. Or you hold yourself to specific standards or rituals around your clothing. It is common to feel that clothes should be universal and worn no matter your state of mind. But I am here to remind you that this is not the case. What you wore yesterday and the day before will not necessarily feel good on your body today. If you notice yourself having a day where your body image is worse than usual, wear clothes you know you feel comfortable in. That can be your favorite sweatshirt with a pair of leggings, whatever feels good to you! Dress strictly for comfort—give your mind and body a break.
Speak Kindly to Yourself.
This one may seem very typical and overused, but it is an important concept everyone to remember and practice daily. The body you have does it’s best to keep your heart beating, lungs breathing, and organs functioning down to the very smallest cell. It is your home and deserves kindness. Instead of looking in the mirror and telling yourself horrible things, show gratitude towards your body for all it has done and continues to do for you. Look into the mirror and say: “I accept you as you are. You are my forever home, and I thank you for keeping me alive despite all the hate I give. Thank you for continuously fighting for me even though I have spent so much time fighting against you.” If this feels to hard, that’s okay. It is something to work towards. For right now, commit to actively treating your body with respect.
Do a Social Media Detox.
I cannot emphasize this one enough! The people and environment you surround yourself with reflect how you live and perceive your life. Remove, mute, or block the people and things that do not serve you and create unrest in your soul. Go into your settings and remove all diet-related, fitness-related, and weight loss-related ads. Follow influencers and organizations that remind you that it is okay to eat, that your worth is more than a number on a scale, and that it is okay for your body to have stretch marks, cellulite, and scars. Cultivate a space where you leave feeling built-up, not broken down.
Practice Journaling and Mindfulness
You may think, “I have tried journaling before, and it did not work for me,” or “I cannot sit still long enough to meditate and clear my mind.” But I am here to tell you there is no right or wrong way to journal or meditate. What matters is that you are making a point to show up for yourself and practice self-care. Journaling allows you to remove the negative and positive thoughts from your mind and provide release. Mindfulness and meditation will enable you to sit and just “be.” You may feel anxious or distracted, but allow yourself 30 seconds, one minute, 15 minutes, or however long you need to work towards finding inner peace. It takes a lot of commitment, practice, and time, but it is well worth it—you have my word.
Accept that Your Body May Change
We are typically less active during the winter than in warmer months, which is more than okay. Change is natural for the human body. You are a dynamic being, and you should look different from what you did yesterday, last week, last month, or last year. Your body reflects your life journey, which is a beautiful thing. Unfortunately, you may have learned to hate and change your body from the moment you were born. Together let’s change that narrative. Your body may vary with the seasons. That is normal, that is okay, and that is more than welcome. You are lovely as you are.
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This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Tori Barkosky (she/her).
Tori is currently a senior at St. Catherine University, pursuing a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Nutrition Science. Tori is passionate about all things related to intuitive eating, HAES, mental health, body respect, eating disorders, and disordered eating. She desires to become a holistic therapist or psychologist in the future and work with clients with eating disorders and help them recover and heal their broken relationship with food and body and find liberation from diet culture. Outside of classes and work, Tori enjoys yoga, being in nature, and consuming too much coffee.